Last Updated on 20/04/2023
Turkey has been attracting people from all over the world. Its unique beauty and distinguished history and culture have been charming to the majority of its visitors. It even made most of them consider moving to Turkey and settling here. However, foreigners willing to relocate to Turkey should think well before taking such a determined decision.
Their thinking should be based on relevant research, previous experiences, and trustworthy advisors to make the right decision.
In this article, we will evaluate the pros and cons of moving to turkey.
Benefits of moving to Turkey:
To be objective and present accurate information, we investigated international ex-pats’ experience and agreed on the following facts.
Accessible residence permit process:
The first thing that an ex-pat should think about while moving to turkey is the residence permit process. Any foreign national willing to stay a long period in Turkey must get a residence permit to live legally in the country and avoid penalties and deportations.
Turkey is one of the few countries globally that provides residence permits through easy and quick steps. First of all, you need to apply online for an appointment fulfilling the form on the Regional Directorate of the immigration management website. Then you need to submit the requested documents to the immigration Office set on the appointment on the given date and time.
For more information regarding a residence permit application, check this article [Immigration process in turkey-residence permit].
You can go through this procedure by yourself, and you can also choose an advisor or a lawyer to do it for you if you prefer.
Multicultural environment
-Expat Community :
Turkey hosts a huge international population. It’s the reason why you will not feel homesick as a new coming ex-pat. You’ll be part of a multicultural community where you may broaden your horizons and learn about various cultures. You will also get the opportunity to benefit from the previous experience in many issues. Furthermore, Turkey has seen a variety of civilizations throughout its history which explains locals’ tolerance and respect towards foreigners.
-International Schools:
Education is an essential factor to think about while considering moving to another country, especially for families with children. Ex-pats in Turkey don’t have to worry about this point. Big cities in Turkey have a lot of international schools teaching a variety of languages. These schools adopt a rich curriculum internationally recognized. To know more about these countries and the educational system in Turkey, you can take a look at the following article.[ Educational system in Turkey ].
Affordable Living
-Reasonable daily expenses:
Compared to neighboring European countries, the cost of living is reasonable in Turkey. Daily expenses such as groceries, accommodation, and transportation are affordable for an average person, and he can have a decent and comfortable life with a medium standard salary. Yet, Istanbul is the most expensive city in the country; however, there are options for the limited budget to afford an appropriate lifestyle.
-Low housing prices:
In Turkey, real estate prices are considered affordable compared to European countries and the USA. The advanced construction sectors with innovative methods brought a wide range of options to the market, making the prices reasonable and competitive.
Ex-pats with income in foreign currency can afford luxurious properties with low prices. This fact made Turkey an attractive destination for foreigners’ retirement.
Health Insurance
Medical insurance is not required for retirees above 65 years old, even foreign nationals. However, any person under this age needs to have valid health insurance covering the period of their stay in Tukey. Governmental or private insurance both provide essential services and sufficient coverage. Moreover, Turkey has witnessed many improvements in the healthcare system in the last 3 decades, making it an important healthcare destination globally.
To know more about the healthcare system in Turkey and the insurance types, you can click here [ Healthcare system in Turkey ].
Suitable Climate
Turkey is a country where you can enjoy the different 4 seasons all year long. With the difference between the regions, most Turkish cities have cold and hot seasons. For example, Southeastern Anatolian regions have long snow seasons lasting from November till April, varying from -13 to 17 degrees Celsius. However, Aegean and Mediterranean regions such as Fethiye and Bodrum have a May-November sun season with warmer temperatures.
Disadvantages of living in Turkey:
Despite the several advantages that Turkey provides and the favorable conditions, it can present to new Ex-pats, Turkey has some disadvantages that foreigners will have to handle once they move to Turkey.
Cultural difference
Generally, cultural difference is one of the most important issues expatriates might face at first contact with their destination country. They might miss their daily habits and their usual lifestyle that they will have to reset. This situation might be more remarkable in Tukey. Turkish people are attached to traditions that might be different from other countries in the world. The good point is that Turkish people are very welcoming and tolerate any aspect of difference.
Language barrier
The most important point to think about while considering moving to Turkey is the language barrier. This might be a very critical issue n your daily life in Turkey. In general, Turkish people do not speak foreign languages, especially elders. So it will be pretty hard to find an English-speaking butcher or grocer in your neighborhood. Besides, as Turkish is the country’s official language, a process that needs to be done in state offices or official directorates requires minimum knowledge of the Turkish language. It is highly recommended for Ex-pats to learn the Turkish language if they plan to have a long stay in Turkey.
MEO consultants are ready to advise you of specific institutions for the Turkish language.
Is Turkey a safe country to live in?
Turkey is a very safe country, especially in the big cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Turkey has a very low crime rate compared to other western countries. According to the latest data of Numbeo, Turkey recorded in 2022 a crime index of 39.62, opposite to a high safety index of 60.3. It was ranked 93rd while USA and UK were respectively 57th and 68th in the highest crime index list.[ https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp ]
If you would like to know further details about any fact regarding moving to Turkey, MEO Consultants offer you a complete advisory.
